Advice needed for a coop that is 20 min away.

[jjaazzy]

I need some advice please....feeling very overwhelmed and don't know what to do. We purchased a house back in January, with lots of acreage. I had been wanting chickens for the past 5 years but live in an HOA. During the time we were waiting for the paperwork to go through I got some Silkie Chickens and we fell in love with raising chickens. Then a local feed store offered "free" chickens with purchase. That day we brought home 20 little chickies, EE's, BR's RR's and some buff colored ones I don't know what they are. Taking care of these guys was a great distraction from the wait of the closing.
Well the deal fell through...... uggghhhh so disappointed and now they all can't stay here. The silkies I can probably get away with they are quiet. But I know I can't keep 18 big chickens here. Maybe 3 or 4 of the quiet ones, but I would really like to get more Silkies. (I need help, but I know you guys will understand my obsession)
So my Mom lives on 1 acre, and I can move them there. Not an ideal situation but I would still like to raise chickens and sell eggs. I can't drive to her house everyday but she could do light duty, pick up eggs and check on them. I could do the maintenance stuff when I go.
Here is my question. How do you suggest I set this up so that is the least amount of maintenance? Least amount of daily ToDo?

I am thinking large coop to house all of them, or should I do several smaller ones so that I could have purebred chickens to sell? I don't know if I have any roosters yet but I am sure there is bound to be some in the mix...... How should I handle letting them out during the day, locking them up at night? My Mom doesn't like going out after dark. What time will they all go to roost? I know she has racoons could be other stuff too. So coop will be secure. The yard is not fenced and there are some strays in the area. Should I put up temp fencing for the day time hours or let them run loose? Will she need to let them out and lock them up?
Thank you all I hope you can give me some good pointers. TIA

 

[Trefoil]

For your situation, the easiest on your mom is going to be to build a secure coop with a secure large run, then all she would have to do is keep them fed and watered.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

X2
I like having more than one coop for quarantining new birds, as well as the sick and injured.
There are ways to water and feed that last a long time. I have a 55 gallon food grade plastic barrel that holds enough water for 5 housing units with anywhere from 7 to 15 birds and it lasts about 3 months using drinker cups. http://www.strombergschickens.com/prod_detail_list/automatic-drinker-cup-system
For feeding, most of my coops have homemade PVC feeders that hold about a weeks supply of feed.
You can also get a large range feeder that will do the same.
http://www.strombergschickens.com/product/hanging-poultry-feeder-50-pound-capacity/hanging-feeders
Feed in the coop so vermin won't be attracted and all she has to do is open up in the morning and close up at night.
The birds will put themselves to bed by dusk.
The 2 most important things are to give the birds at least 4 square foot floor space each in the coop and at least 1 square foot each of ventilation.
There are also automatic doors but they're pricey.

 

[jjaazzy]

Thank you both so much, I feel so confused don't know what direction to take. I just posted for an opinion which ones the group thinks might be noisy. I am considering keeping some here at the house. One neighbor has a screaming Macaw and the other works for wildlife refuge and she has something that screams its head off every morning and evening. So....... why can't I have a little something? What the neighbors don't know won't hurt them.

 

[popsicle]

I think if you build the coop with a secure run as suggested you wouldn't even need a pop-door--but it certainly would be a good investment down the road.

Build the nest boxes so they can be checked from the outside. For 18 hens you should be able to get away with 5 boxes, which can easily be made so on one or two doors would need to be lifted for collection.

I've seen some really neat coops built on trailers--maybe something to consider in case you do end up finding a new place where you can have the birds.